Charles Barkley stepped out of the studio to do live analysis Thursday at the Heat-Spurs game. / Steve Mitchell, US Presswire

by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports

Charles Barkley occasionally wanders from TNT's NBA studio, even when he's not showing off his awful golf swing.

But Thursday night, he took on the greatest challenge in broadcast journalism: the Gregg Popovich sideline interview. And he probably wishes he stayed behind the desk.

The San Antonio Spurs coach already was under fire for sending his top four available scorers home for the nationally televised game against the Miami Heat. And the game, which the Heat won 105-100, was close entering the fourth quarter. So Popovich probably didn't want to talk.

And he reminded Barkley of it quickly.

Things started out well enough, with Barkley asking about the Spurs bench. Here's the transcript:

Popovich: I think they're playing pretty well in transition. We're making some shots. We're ahead. So that's a good thing.

Barkley: Do you like the pace of the game?

Popovich: We have to have a good pace. If we play halfcourt, their defense is too good. Our only shot is to keep the pace going.

Barkley: Who's the one guy who --

Popovich, interjecting: That's a third question, isn't it? Don't you just get two?

Barkley, sheepishly: My bad.

Barkley knew not to pick a fight, which was a wise move. Fights don't get won against Popovich. Not during games. He also avoided the question about sending home Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green. We doubt Popovich would have been interested in answering that one.

And the interview wasn't as memorable as Popovich's lecture on happiness to TNT's David Aldridge, which is either good or bad, depending on your vantage point.

As a whole, Barkley's rare live broadcast was decent. He stumbled a few times, was distracted by play and argued too much with Reggie Miller (even if he was right). He's best in the studio, but he says he's retiring from that line of work soon. Maybe color commentary could be the next step?

We bet he'll remember how many questions to ask Popovich on the sideline from now on.